The young midfielder hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked this season in Rodgers’ Celtic side.
It’s easy to forget that Liam Henderson is just 20 years of age. The Celtic midfielder had only recently turned 17 when he debuted for the first team against Motherwell four years ago but, despite impressive loan stints with Rosenberg and Hibernian, he is yet to push on and stake his claim for a regular place in the side.
Under Brendan Rodgers, Henderson has featured just 10 times in the Scottish Premiership. Although with Nir Bitton seemingly set for the exit, as reported by the Scottish Sun, the Livingston-born youngster may find that his first-team prospects will be boosted next season.
Rodgers is a fan, after all, even if he may not show it at times.
“As time goes on, he impresses me even more. He’s only 20,” the Northern Irishman said of the midfielder after he opened the scoring in a 5-2 thumping of St Johnstone last month, as reported by the Scottish Sun.
“What I love about Liam, he’s got great personality. Now you see the discipline in his game, and he’s got a goal in him.
“He’s got a personality that you need to play for a club like Celtic.”
It’s tempting to take Rodgers’ praise with a pinch of salt, however, after he spoke in similarly glowing terms about the out-of-favour Gary Mackay-Steven and loaned-out Scott Allan earlier in the season.
Yet, unlike the aforementioned duo, Henderson has offered glimpses of his first-team credentials on the rare occasions he has been handed an opportunity this season.
There is room for improvement, however; his final ball is often erratic and the execution frequently does not match the intention.
Yet, with the Scottish Sun claiming that Israeli international Bitton is yet to convince Rodgers and is likely to be sold in the summer regardless of his determination to stay at Celtic Park, next season might give Henderson an opportunity at last to put together a run of games in the midfield.
And we may at last have a definitive answer as to whether this homegrown talent can make the grade with the champions.
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